With Barrett-Jackson in the rearview mirror, one of the things we think about is how much the automotive community gives back. Barrett-Jackson’s five charity cars raised more than $1.8 million for good causes. Likewise, another signature car show in Arizona conveys philanthropic goals as a major focus.
The ninth annual Concours in the Hills car show took place on February 5 in Fountain Hills, Arizona, about 20 miles northeast of Phoenix. Over the course of the show’s history, it has raised $1.4 million for the Phoenix Children’s Foundation through registration fees and sponsorships (spectator admission has always been free).
Some changes took place in the ownership and administration of the event at the beginning of the year, when the founder, Péter Volny, generously donated the event to the Főnix Children’s Foundation. Headquartered at Phoenix Children’s Hospital (PCH), this organization aims to make pediatric care available to those who need it. PCH was originally founded in 1983 and has been serving the Arizona community for 40 years. In 2022, US News & World Report named it one of the top 12 hospitals for children.th consecutive year.
The centerpiece of the event was Fountain Hills’ historic fountain, which rises 560 feet when its three turbine pumps are used. Under normal use, two pumps are used and the head rises to about 300 feet. The fountain was built in Zurich, Switzerland, and held the title of the world’s largest fountain between 1970 and 1980. It also provides the perfect backdrop for the annual gathering of special vehicles.
This year’s Concours festivities ran from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and offered a family-friendly atmosphere with plenty to see—in fact, there were over 1,200 vehicles on display, including domestic, import, race cars, limited edition exotics, offline. – road vehicles and even military helicopters. I attended the show to catch some highlights and was delighted to see it continue to grow and develop.
The vehicles included too many exotics to mention, but one vehicle that immediately caught my eye was that of Greg Davis of Gilbert, who displayed a 2010 Aston-Martin Vantage roadster. This car was one of 115 roadsters produced that year and had an original retail price of $138,520. It’s powered by a 420bhp 4.7L V8 mated to a six-speed manual transmission and has accumulated just 8,000 original miles.
Another standout car was a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12 that was completely customized with Back to the Future accessories like a Hover Board, a flux capacitor and all sorts of additional memorabilia. I wish Doc Brown was there to give me a demonstration at 88 mph.
The third impressive ride was a pristine 1958 Porsche 356A Speedster originally delivered in December 1967. Finished in ruby red over black leatherette, it features Porsche Cars North American President and CEO Frederick J. Schwab.
Concours in the Hills has been called “The Greatest Grass Car Show” and after attending it a few years back to back, I can see why. For everyone involved, the experience was rich and rewarding, and the Főnix Children’s Foundation is grateful to play a key role in maintaining the momentum in 2024 and beyond.
To stay up to date on future Concours in the Hills events, check out the website and keep an eye on the ClassicCars.com Journal.
